4 Natural Ways To Treat Allergies

As most allergy sufferers know, an allergy attack can make your life miserable. During a typical nasal allergy attack, you may experience sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, malaise, shortness of breath and a headache. Before resorting to prescription or over-the-counter medication, though, consider the following natural ways to treat allergies.

1) Fish

Eating fish may curb your allergies. Fish contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), that reduce inflammation in the body. This is important because an allergy attack is essentially inflammation triggered by your body's immune system. By eating fish and other foods rich in omega-3s, you'll have an easier time managing your allergies. It's important to note that different types of fish have different levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, herring, and trout all have high levels, making them an excellent food for allergy sufferers.

2) Spa Treatments

Spa treatments also help with allergies. A relaxing massage, for instance, can lower your stress levels and, subsequently, promote proper hormonal balance in your body whereas aromatherapy can relieve sinus congestion and other common symptoms associated with allergies. Some spas even offer salt therapy treatments for people suffering from nasal allergies, skin allergies, and asthma. Additionally, many spas like the use of oils while treating their clients. This is a positive because essential oils can be formulated to be highly therapeutic, and will help you relax if your body has been particular high-strung due to allergies.

3) Bee Pollen

Assuming you aren't allergic to it, consuming bee pollen can increase your body's resistance to allergies in several ways. First, it promotes a healthy immune system by exposing your body to small amounts of new, harmless microbes. Second, it has anti-inflammatory properties that rival common drugs like naproxen and phenylbutazone. Third, bee pollen contains antioxidants that fight allergy-triggering compounds. Start by eating 1/4 teaspoon of bee pollen daily and gradually increase your dosage as needed.

4) Saline Nasal Rinse

Finally, rinsing your sinuses with saline may reduce the severity and frequency of your allergy attacks. Nasal allergy attacks are triggered by the presence of pollen, dust or other airborne allergens in the sinuses. Your body thinks these allergens are trying to invade it, so it responds by producing inflammation. A saline rinse, however, will flush allergens, irritants, and debris from your sinuses, thereby reducing the risk of an allergy attack while allowing you to breathe more freely in the process. As a side benefit, research has shown that saline rinses can shorten the duration of a cold infection.

Unlike antihistamines and other allergy medication, the natural allergy treatments discussed here don't have adverse side effects. Nonetheless, you should consult any new treatments with your primary care physician.

• health
• mental health
• skincare
• wellness
• Wellness